Welcome from Principal Peter Newman

 

Greetings Dino Family,

It is an absolute honor to welcome you to the 2026–27 school year as I step into my fourth year as your principal. For over 20 years, Da Vinci Charter Academy has forged a unique path in education, building a community where academic excellence, innovative Project-Based Learning (PBL), and deep bonds of care come together. Our collective goal remains unchanged: to ensure every student who walks through our doors feels deeply valued and fully prepared for the future.

This year, our instructional focus is centered on deep engagement and increasing opportunities for Critical Thinking. Over the summer, our phenomenal staff participated in powerful professional development, ranging from sharpening our project design at the national PBL World conference to collaborating at our annual "Pre-Game" staff retreat. As a charter school, we are dedicated to continuous adult learning to ensure our practice deeply impacts student success and helps students build the durable skills outlined in our School-Wide Learning Outcomes (SLOs).

We are incredibly proud of the work that has taken root at Da Vinci over the past year. We have set a course that braids together the durable skills taught in our core courses with expanded opportunities to practice them in Career Technical Education (CTE), Dual Enrollment, and Work-Based Learning. Our long-term goal of supporting students as they apply our SLOs in authentic settings is truly coming to fruition! The establishment of our Digital Sound Design Pathway, Business Pathway, and on-campus, in-person Dual Enrollment class, combined with our strong foundation, are examples that we are firing on all cylinders.

Relationships remain the heart of our flourishing school. We continue to lead with empathy and care, fundamentally knowing that high expectations can only exist alongside high supports, which starts by meeting every student where they are. This year, we are also strengthening our community-based approach by taking our Peer Mediation and Restorative Practices to the next level.

My door is always open to you. Let’s work together to make this our best year yet; the best of Da Vinci is still to come!

Warmly,

Peter Newman Principal,  Da Vinci Charter Academy